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There is a constitutional crisis looming on the horizon, which could result in a bitter partisan battle over control of the Florida Supreme Court, a battle that could leave the court without three of its seven justices for a protracted period of time. Florida voters can resolve this likely battle before it begins by voting yes on Amendment 3. On inauguration day in 2019, three Florida Supreme Court justices will retire, and our state constitution does not authorize the naming of their successors until these retiring justices have left office. That may not be a model of planning and efficiency, but it doesn't sound like a constitutional crisis until you consider that on inauguration...

Related "U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary" Articles

There is a constitutional crisis looming on the horizon, which could result in a bitter partisan battle over control of the Florida Supreme Court, a battle that could leave the court without three of its seven justices for a protracted period of time....

A Florida woman who lost her baby after her boyfriend tricked her into taking an abortion pill is now fighting for the state to adopt a fetal protection law, the Associated Press is reporting.
Remee Jo Lee stood teary-eyed in front of the Senate...

TALLAHASSEE -- Lawmakers advanced changes to Florida's controversial "stand your ground" law Tuesday in the wake of the George Zimmerman trial and a summer of protests after his acquittal in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.
But...

TALLAHASSEE — For a month this summer, protesters enraged by the acquittal of George Zimmerman turned the normally sleepy Florida Capitol into center stage of a contemporary social-justice showdown.
They slept outside Gov. Rick Scott's office. They...

While Florida's "stand your ground" law is an excellent, common-sense law, it's not perfect.
In 2005, Rep. Dennis Baxley came to me with the idea that the Legislature should revise Florida's law that required an innocent victim to flee when...

TALLAHASSEE -- Lawmakers advanced changes to Florida's controversial "stand your ground" law Tuesday in the wake of the George Zimmerman trial and a summer of protests after his acquittal in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.
But...

After months of controversy over Florida's "stand your ground" law, some fixes for its worst flaws could finally be on the way. This month a state Senate panel approved a measure that would modify the law that became notorious for delaying...

TALLAHASSEE — It's the last committee day of the week and lawmakers are eager to return home for the Thanksgiving holiday week. So here are some of the highlights of the last day. * The Senate Health Regulation Committee and the Senate Committee on Chil

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has released the names of a 28-member National Hispanic Steering Committee that includes prominent Latinos from all over the country and Puerto Rico. Central Floridians on the list are former U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, now a

TALLAHASSEE — Attorney General Pam Bondi said Wednesday that the state needs to step up and shut down human trafficking in Florida. “This is about a $32 billion business that we want to put out of business,” she said. Bondi, accompanied by Se

By William E. Gibson, Washington Bureau WASHINGTON — Cuban-born Judge Adalberto Jordan of South Florida is headed to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals after the Senate voted 94 to 5 on Wednesday to confirm his nomination. Jordan had to wait four months a

Sandra Day O'Connor is worried that civics isn't a requirement in all U.S. schools anymore. The former U.S. Supreme Court justice says it's “appalling” that some surveys show a third of Americans cannot name the three branches of government, she te

The guest list this weekend on Sunday morning programs: ***Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor talks to CBS' “Face the Nation.” The program starts at 10:30 a.m. on WKMG-Channel 6. The program also looks at whether Penn State can recove

TALLAHASSEE – Secretary of State Ken Detzner wasn’t on hand to witness former Gov. Charlie Crist slam Florida’s handling of the 2012 election before a U.S. Senate committee last month, but he’s written a defense of the state’s election process. His take on the

Dick Durbin
Political party: Democrat
Current job: U.S. senator since 1997, now assistant majority leader
Age: 69
Born in: East St. Louis
Lives in: Springfield and Chicago
Personal: Married to Loretta with children Paul, Jennifer and Christine...

The Obama administration and Senate negotiators appear close to an agreement to strengthen legislation that would curtail the bulk collection of data on Americans.
In May, the House passed a watered-down version of a bill sponsored by Rep. Jim...

More than half a million young immigrants who were granted temporary deportation waivers can apply for a two-year extension, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said Thursday, in what may be a template for more sweeping White House action before the...

Let us now praise Democratic hypocrisy.
Throughout my life, various Republicans have suggested amending the Constitution in one way or another. A few years ago, they suggested revising the 14th Amendment to get rid of automatic birthright citizenship....

WASHINGTON - Seizing on news that Attorney General Eric Holder plans to step down, Republican lawmakers piled criticism on him over the Internal Revenue Service scandal, his handling of a gun-running probe known as "Fast and Furious," and a host...

If the name Anita Hill means anything at all to you, you won't need any encouragement to see a compelling documentary featuring this usually private woman talking with exceptional candor and insight about the events that made her an instant national...